Freelance Writer Tips - How to Create an Effective Web Site and Blog

If you want to be a successful freelance writer, there are many things you will need to know. One of the most important steps you can take to taking your writing seriously and encouraging others to do the same is to create an effective Web site and/or blog.

Here are some things that complete a freelance writer's Web site:

· Secure a domain- they are cheaper than ever before and it's important to distinguish yourself as a serious writer and a professional. You may use your first and last name if that is available or if you write on a specialty, you may include this in your domain (i.e. Foodreviewsbygloria.com). Try to keep it short and simple and easy to remember.

· Bio or About the Author- you need to describe who you are. This doesn't mean you need your fill resume or life story on the site but some personal details about who you are, why you write and what you write are helpful.

· Credentials- any past experience, writing experience, life experience, degrees and diplomas, and other helpful credentials should be included.

· Samples- no writer's Web site is complete without samples of the work you have done. If this is online work, the best method is to link to it so the potential client can see it directly on the site it was published on. Try to avoid just pasting a writing sample in with no links or identifying info about where it was published or why.

· Contact info- don't forget to make it easy for them to contact you. A link to email or contact form work best. Be cautious of directly writing your email on the site as spammers and bots pick this up and you will get loaded up on spam mail. A contact form will protect you from this.

· Make it yours- give the visitor something they would not have known had they not visited your Web site. This is your "signature" online and it's how you make it truly yours.

· Don't oversell- many amateur writers' Web sites spend more time promising what they can do and less time actually showing the visitor what they can do. Allow your work to speak for itself and don't oversell on the promises of how great you are.

When it comes to your blog, many of the same rules apply. If this is going to be used for business, you want to give a professional image. Creating a theme that merges well with your Web site is important to brand recognition. A photo of yourself or your logo is also helpful. Include a bio section or page that tells who you are and also have a link back to your Web site from the blog.

If you have a Web site and a blog, then there should be a significant difference between the two, although they may contact some of the same content. You don't want to repeat everything word for word due to repetition in the search engines and for the potential clients that follow both. However, there are some people who may visit your blog and not your Web site and vice versa so the two should intertwine.

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